Three fun activities for your weekend

There are several great activities for families this weekend. The weather is great, you’ve got your shopping done, right? And you’re looking for a break now that the snow is melted.

Check out this Top 3 list from Metro Voice.

Take a Christmas twilight tour of a historic mansion

Bingham-Waggoner decked out for the Holidays.

Take a step back in time Sunday, from 4 to 7pm, at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate that is hosting a local tradition–their Christmas Twilight Tour. The Victorian home is currently decked out for the holidays with period decorations in every one of its dozens of rooms. In addition to enjoying the decorations, you can study all the historical artifacts including toys from the 19^th Century and more. It’s definitely a look back in time. After your stroll through the mansion you can hang out in the cool third-story third floor tea room with free refreshments and live Christmas music. The carriage house boutique is also a popular stop with unique gifts and period decorations available for purchase. The home is available most days for tours with certain exceptions like Christmas Day through the end of December. Tickets are just $6 for adults. Kids 6-16 just 3 bucks. For info call 816-461-3491.

Get your Hanukkah on!

Ever wondered what Hanukkah was all about? Also spelled Chanukah, it is a Jewish eight-day “festival of lights. In Jewish families around the world it is celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and tastey fried food. The Hebrew word for Hanukkah means “dedication.” In the second century BC, Greece ruled the ancient homeland of the Jewish people–now Israel. The Greeks had defiled the temple and attempted to force Jews to worship idols and give up their faith. A small band of Jewish believers rebelled and drove the mighty Greek army from Israel. When the rabbis cleaned up the temple to make it suitable to worship God once more, they went to light the menorah yet found only enough oil for one day– a small jar of oil that had escaped Greek contamination. A miracle happened and that oil lasted for a full 8 days allowing the priests to make and sanctify new oil for the Temple.

To commemorate the miracle, they established the 8-day celebration of Hanukkah in remembrance.

A Hanukkah party will be held at Or HaOlam Messianic Synagogue Sunday, Dec. 2 from 3:30 to 7:30pm, 9898 W. 95th St., Overland Park. You are invited to celebrate Hanukkah. t! There will be a small Judaic gift store, fellowship, crafts for children, Hanukkah lighting, and the original Hanukkah musical: The Sound of Light (with puppets!)

The Nutcracker

Don’t miss the Kansas City Ballet’s presentation of the Nutcracker. It’s playing weekly on Saturday, Sunday, Thursday and Friday, through December 23.  Check the website for times.

This classic, Victorian-era story by E.T.A. Hoffman features Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, Dr. Drosselmeier and the Sugar Plum Fairy in a magical theatrical experience wrapped with exquisite costumes, grand sets and captivating choreography. Let your wonder ignite and feel the glimmer once more as your childhood dreams return and inspire you to imagine again.

–By Dwight Widaman